Inclosure for children.



L. H. MILLER.

INCLOSURE FOR CHILDREN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3,1935.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

a; are 5/ l/VVE/VTOR. LOU/5 H. M/LLER THE coLUMmA LANQGRAmI-co\vAsuiNuToN, D c.

at b,

LOUIS H. MILLER, OF MOUNT EDEN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F 0NEJ'L AKLF TOCHARLES J. VATI-I, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

INCLOSURE FOR CHILDREN.

Application filed May 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Eden, in the county of Alameda, State of California,have invented a new and useful Inclosure for Children, of which thefollowing is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enablethose skilled in the art to construct and use the same.

This invention relates to a portable fence used to provide a play spacefor young children.

It will be understood by all that it is a somewhat difficult matter towatch a child, at the age when they begin to crawl and walk, at alltimes.

This invention provides a compact fence which may be easily carried fromplace to place and which gives the child a yard or space to move aroundin, although confined within the limits thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversible fence whichwill enable the mother to secure the child therein even when large andable to climb over it when used. as illustrated in the drawing, thefence top then affording a shelf for the youngsters laythings.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing in which the samereference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout, but I amaware that there may be many modifications thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fence or yard as it appears set upready for use, Fig. .2- is a vertical cross section as the fence appearswhen closed, Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section at right angles to theplane of Fig. 2, the fence being in the same position as Fig. 2, Fig. 4is a plan view of the latch used for holding the fence folded, Fig. 5 isa side elevation of the latch used for holding the sides of the fencetogether when in use, and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of thelatch and fence corner posts.

The numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent suitable boards miter-ed togetherat their ends and having suitable corner irons 5, 6, 7 and 8 toreinforce the corners. I The boards form a flat rectangular frame andhave posts 9, 10, and 11 hinged thereto at 12, 13 and 14 on one sidethereof. The posts are connected by suitable rails 15, 16 and 17, 17. Onthe opposite side of the base frame there Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 25, 11916.

Serial No. 25,659. I

are three posts 18, 19 and 20 connected by rails the same as the otherthree posts and hinged to the base at 21, 22 and 23.

The other two sides of the base frame each have four slotted l. shapedbraces 24 secured thereto, the slots forming hinges which permit theposts 25, 26 and 27, 25, 26 and 27 of the two fences to rise enough toallow the fence to fold down on the top of the first mentioned fenceswhen they have been folded down. The posts 25 and 27 each have a screw28 passing through the slot of the adjacent plate 24 while the centerposts have two screws 29, one for each adjacent plate 24. The posts 25to 27 and 25 to 27 are connected by suitable rails 30, 31, 32 and 33 and30, 31, 32, and 33.

In order to hold the fences up when in use the corner posts 25, 27 and25, 27 each have a plate 34 secured thereto, said plates each having ahole to receive a pin 35 on each adjacent corner post, and the plates 34also have a plate 36 pivoted thereover to provide for locking the plates34 on the pins 35. The slot in each plate 36 is so narrow that the plateis free from the notch in the pin in only one position, and is capableof looking it when up or down.

The posts 26, 26 are provided with large headed screws 38, 39 and 40which with the slotted bar 41 form the means whereby the several fencesare locked together in the folded position.

While the pen is ordinarily used in the position shown in Fig. 1, it canbe used inverted when the child is able to climb over it in thatposition whereupon the inwardly projecting base frame affords a shelffor the childs playthings and also effectively prevents it from climbingout.

The latch 41 has its open ended slot notched to receive the pin 40 asindicated in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows,modifications within the scope of the claims being expressly reserved:

1. An inclosure for children comprising a flat frame open at the center,four fences hinged thereto, two of said fences having hinges pivotedadjacent the plane of the frame, each capable of being folded down intocontact with the frame, and the other two fences being pivoted inslotted standdown into contact with the frame while the other two fencesmay be folded down into contact with the first two fences.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of April,A. D. 1915, in the presence of the two subscribed Witnesses.

LOUIS H. MILLER.

\Vitnesses:

A. H. KEPHART, HENRY B. LISTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

